San Marco sees positive results from exploration program in Mexico

Seabridge Gold Inc. (TSX:SEA)(NYSE Amex:SA) announced today the results of an updated National Instrument 43-101 compliant Preliminary Feasibility Study ("PFS") for its 100% owned KSM project located in northern British Columbia, Canada. Image by Seabridge Gold

The Pebble Partnership has approved US$91 million of program expenditures this year with the objective of completing a prefeasibility study next year, which will lead to the beginning of permitting for the massive Alaskan copper, gold and molybdenum project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Activities to be undertaken this year at the Pebble Project include engineering to complete a pre-feasibility project design in 2011, as well as environmental studies to finalize an Environmental Baseline Document in preparation for project permitting.

Thompson Creek Minerals has spurned an option with U.S. Energy Corp. to acquire an interest in the Mount Emmons molybdenum project in Colorado's Gunnison County. According to a story in today's Globe and Mail, the Denver-based company has decided instead to focus on exploring its Berg property in British Columbia: Chairman and CEO Kevin Loughrey said the property can potentially expand its molybdenum production while also helping the company's diversification efforts.

Geodex has acquired by staking the Jake Lee project covering approximately 3800 hectares located 80km south of Fredericton. Geodex will conduct an exploration program focused on the rare earth elements ("REE") potential with a secondary focus on gold and base metals based on the geology and supported by regional government sampling and assessment report data.

Bloomberg reports: Cia. Minera Milpo SA, a Peruvian zinc and lead miner, won the bidding for a copper and molybdenum deposit stripped from Inca Pacific Resources Inc. (IPR) last year and will invest $400 million in the project, the government said. Lima-based Milpo will start up the Magistral deposit in the northern Andes in 2015, state investment promotion agency Proinversion said today in an e-mailed statement. Peru canceled Vancouver-based Inca Pacific’s concession in October, alleging the company failed to meet investment commitments.

Vancouver-based Mercator Minerals has acquired Creston Moly Corp. in a stock and cash deal amounting to C$195 million, Mercator announced Tuesday in a press release. Under the arrangement, Creston shareholders will receive 0.15 of a Mercator common share and $0.08 in cash, for each common share of Creston — representing a respective 43% and 40% premium on the companies' share prices as of market close on Friday.

Moly Mines Limited (TSX:MOL)(ASX:MOL) is pleased to announce it has been advised by Hanlong Mining Investment Pty Ltd ("Hanlong"), that the China Development Bank ("CDB") has approved US$500 million in project finance facilities to develop the Spinifex Ridge Molybdenum / Copper mine. CDB have agreed to expand their commitment from the US$250 million, announced on 1st February 2011, to US$465 million and make available US$35 million in further working capital facilities to meet Hanlong's US$500 million financing commitment to Moly Mines. A formal commitment letter is expected to be issued by CDB within the next two weeks.

Tosca Mining Corp. (TSQ - TSX Venture, TQ4 - FWB), reported today it has completed the due diligence on the Red Hills Moly-Copper Project and has signed a formal agreement to purchase the 100% ownership of all mineral and surface rights of the property. The agreement calls for payments of US$10,900,000 and the issuance of 2.1 million common shares to the sellers of the property over a five year period. The sellers will retain a 2% net smelter return over the Red Hills property.

Miners, especially of base metals, will drive Canadian merger and acquisition activity for the rest of 2011, although oil and gas and financial services will also be significant, bankers said on Tuesday.